Rampant poaching threatens East Java's turtle population<\/p>\n
Iman D. Nugroho, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
Protected turtle species in East Java are on the brink of
\nextinction due to the rampant poaching of their eggs, says an
\nenvironmental expert.<\/p>\n
\"People are tempted to take the eggs due to their high price,\"
\nsaid researcher Ninil R. Miftahuljannah.<\/p>\n
A turtle egg fetches between Rp 800 (0.08 US cents) and Rp
\n1,700, while the market price of a common chicken egg is around
\nRp 500 apiece.<\/p>\n
Turtle eggs are becoming popular due to the belief that they
\npromote longevity.<\/p>\n
Over the past few years, the widespread poaching of turtle
\neggs has been reported in the eastern coast areas of Java, such
\nas on Marubetiri, Barong and Alas Purwo beaches.<\/p>\n
Police officers in Jember regency arrested recently Bunari,
\nwho resides near Barong beach in the regency, for removing 1,055
\neggs from the beach.<\/p>\n
Three years ago, the immigration authority at Juanda Airport,
\nSurabaya, foiled an attempt to smuggle thousands of turtles and
\neggs through the airport, according to head of the Indonesian
\nForum for the Environment's (Walhi) East Java office Ridho
\nSyaiful Asyhadi.<\/p>\n
Ninil proposed that the government step up its campaign
\nagainst turtle poaching, and work together with the fishermen to
\nsave the turtles and increase the revenue of local fishermen.<\/p>\n
\"The government would provide the fishermen with better
\nfishing equipment, while, in return, the fishermen would agree
\nnot to poach the turtle eggs,\" said Ninil.<\/p>\n
The government could also develop an ecotourism program, which
\nwould be aimed at encouraging people to help save the turtles.<\/p>\n
\"The government could organizes holiday packages that allowed
\ntourists to watch turtles laying eggs or releasing their
\noffspring into the sea,\" said Ninil.<\/p>\n
Walhi activist Chatur said while Law. No. 5\/1990 on Natural
\nResources Conservation prohibited the poaching of turtles and
\ntheir eggs, the law had been weakly enforced.<\/p>\n
\"Police officers and forestry officials claim they have
\nlimited resources and personnel and cannot prevent turtle egg
\npoaching in remote areas,\" said Chatur.<\/p>\n
Residents of these coastal areas also consider that, as the
\nbeaches are part of their ancestral land, the turtle eggs are
\nthere for the taking. Also, turtle poaching has become habitual
\namong such coastal communities, making it difficult for the
\ngovernment to eradicate the practice.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rampant-poaching-threatens-east-javas-turtle-population-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}